LOCH GARTEN - END FEBRUARY 2024

Link to July 2023 thread

July proved to be a less nail-biting month than June. Brodie re-appeared early on the 1st and delivered fish (including flounder) to the nest every day bar 1 thereafter, with a record count of 7 on the 21st. Asha also fished and delivered a salmon on the 3rd, as well as quite a few sticks, not least one to replace the sticky-up stick on the nest that got removed on ringing day - 12th July. We have 2 boys, as only 7% of those surveyed had predicted. 2C5 (oldest) became Sid (Vicious) and 2C4 (youngest) is Harry (Nilsson). We had some cracking snaps particularly from the PTZ camera, a 2am fish, self-feeding started, and wing-flapping and helicoptering. Bets are on for a fledge or two very early in August. Sid is 58 days and Harry 56 days on the 1st of August

  • How could I not have just stayed a bit longer!

    It really is blowy there today!  Well caught Scylla and Trevor.  I believe it is Brodie. 

    14.35  the PTZ found Brodie on a broken bare topped tree, but not his usual 'bare topped tree' which is beyond the old nest structure

    15.12 he flew off

    The cam moved out a bit, but waited to see if he returned.  He didn't.

    Cam back on a long view of the nest.

    Just after the cam found him.  Cam is having difficulty in focusing in the wind, and didn't get in any closer.

    15.12  he stretched his wings, but before he flew off

    15.16 he didn't return

    He had been on the tree in the middle, showing it wasn't the usual bare topped, much lower tree he uses.

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • A short video of the end of Brodie's visit, just to have the date & time findable on YouTube:

  • Nowt to report so going for coffee ,, then it will all start ???
  • Well, Trevor I guess the juvies have gone; hopefully back in 2025  and Brodie will be so much more grown up next year he should be up to defending his nest and mate from we all know who.

    (Do you think we can stop translocation now if, as  someone somewhere reported, that Osprey colonies had reached whatever they reach to induce fierce competition  for nests  The  birds seem to be doing all right by themselves) Sigh. Who did say that anyway.........

  • It was me Cirrus. I seem to recall the point is that areas like the north of Scotland have good osprey numbers (and hence more competition for nesting areas) which means they can 'afford' to take chicks from nests for relocating in other areas where numbers are low or absent eg Poole and Cornwall

  • Oh, OK Korky, thanks for that . I'm just not keen on having KL5s   creating mayhem at perfectly wonderful family nests

  • Unknown said:
    KL5s   creating mayhem

    That will happen anyway 

    Translocation is to start a population were their were no Osprey's

    to start with or very few.. 

  • I am away now so see you all Tomorrow
    good watching every one
  • Morning all - woops, it's afternoon all already!
    Nothing has been reported on chat, with yesterday's chat on the PTZ still showing! Spider is still a blob on the lens, currently bottom left. The lens looks as though it has a thin coat of Vaseline on it.

    Translocation is a very emotive subject! It's been such a success at Rutland, and has been a success in various part of Spain. Tim and Rutland are now planing to translocate up to eight chicks a year over five years into Suffolk, whoopee! I have a feeling it might have been deferred because of bird flu. Rutland has a surfeit of males at the moment, as they are being typically philopatric, with females happily breeding in Wales. Surprisingly the new pair in Staffordshire, has a Welsh female from Clywedog (KA6(19)f, and the male (Blue 2AM(!7)m hatched at MB.
    Plenty of platforms are being erected where osprey are regularly seen, in the hope of attracting breeding pairs, but as Tiger is always reminding us, osprey are perfectly capable of building their own nests. They are just taking the easy option. The new Nest 10 at Kielder is one such wild nest. Balgavies was another, until if fell down last year and thanks to volunteers a new temporary platform was put up for them as a feeding base. A young chick (Blue 640(22)m) was rescued from the water, and I think successfully set off on migration.

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • Thanks to all for reporting and chat today Hugging